pointed commentary on current affairs in Jamaica and the Caribbean

Ok, hate is stretching it. But listen to any group of Jamaicans argue about Asafa Powell and a wide range of emotions emerges. Support – unwavering and constant (or not!), exasperation and frustration are among the most common. Even dedicated Asafa fans sometimes waver in their steadfastness. But what is it about this undeniably phenomenal athlete that stirs such intense emotions? Here are a couple of suggestions.

1. Unrealised Potential– this former world record holder has never won a major title except at the Commonwealth Games. We know he’s one of our greats, one of the world’s greats. He’s proven it by breaking the world record. Twice. How many athletes can say that? So it would just be the icing on the cake for him to be standing on that top podium as the Jamaican anthem plays and the black, green and gold ascends above the rest. And that’s the prize that has eluded him. We want it for him, for ourselves and for Jamaica. So fans are frustrated that he hasn’t managed to get there.

World record icon. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2. That mental element– we’re used to ultra-confident 100m champions. The chest-beating of Usain Bolt, the cockiness of Carl Lewis or even the quiet determination of Tyson Gay. THAT type of champion. So fans have never quite known how to read Asafa. When the BBC quoted Asafa as saying after that 2007 World Championship race in which he ran third to Tyson Gay and Derrick Atkins, that “When Tyson came on and gave me a little bit of pressure I just panicked. When I saw I wasn’t in gold medal contention, I gave up in the middle of the race. I just stopped running,” fans said “huh”?

World Athletics Championships 2007 in Osaka – World Record Holder Asafa Powell running away from Keston Bledman (left) and Florin Suciu (middle) during the first round heat in the men’s 100 meters. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3. Giving Up– As a result of his admitted missed opportunities, and comments like the one he made in 2009, everybody has been speculating about Asafa not having the mental toughness to finish the race. This, although he ran a hard race to pick up the bronze at the 2009 World Champs. Even if he has now acquired the mental toughness he admitted to lacking in 2007, many fans seem to have lost faith.

4. The Money– let’s put it out there. Some fans seem offended by the fact that Asafa obviously puts emphasis on professional races where he gets paid. Seriously? The man is a pro athlete. That’s what he does for a living. If he ends up broke with people passing a hat for him, the most he’ll be getting from a lot of people is expressions of pity and shock. The money issue is a red herring. All the pro athletes are running for money. Why is Asafa getting so much flak for it?

5. Pulling Out – Most recently, Asafa pulled out of the Jamaica Invitational, citing soreness in the groin, but announcing that he would be running in Doha at the start of the Diamond League. Last year, after talking up a storm all season he pulled out of the 100m at the World Championships, again citing injury. Although it makes sense that an athlete and his coaches would be thinking long term, and not wanting to risk possibly serious injury especially given Asafa’s history of injury, again, fans seem to have lost faith.

“Athletics can be a very ungrateful sport. All the negative talk about me, questioning my mental strength and asking if I can ever beat those guys again when it matters, well that’s just given me motivation to prove a lot of people wrong, and to prove to myself that I still have it.”

Asafa Powell after his 9.72 win and track record at the 2010 Bislett Games. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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As we draw nearer to the London 2012 Olympics, we’re all closely watching our elite athletes and hoping for the best for them all. Are fans expecting even more from Asafa this year, or have they given up?

Tell me what you think. Are we too hard on Asafa? Or do you think he’s let his fans down?

20 thoughts on “Jamaica’s Love/Hate Relationship with Asafa Powell”

yes i do believe we are too hard on Asafa. i speak as a big fan of his and i dont apologize for it. no one knows what goes through his brain, or know how he is feeling. no athlete wants to lose but someone has to. and then there is added pressure from those who dont even run. he is an human being just like you who is reading this. when he was running fast we praised, loved him, admired him, but as soon as he wasnt winning at the major championships people started to cursed him and ssay he is no good. but the question one should question themselves is COULD YOU DO WHAT ASAFA HAS DONE ? COULD YOU DO BETTER? COULD YOU ENDURE ALL THE TRAINING AND PAIN?

It is hard not to demand of him what he constantly promises, greatness when it truly matters. However, I have accepted that he has his limitations and that it should not diminish his accomplishments on the track. As for the upcoming Olympics I have no expectations of him, however, I am wishing him all the best….

I am a huge football fan (I am not particularly interested in athletics) but clearly there is a psychological element always involved in sports. But, like entertainment, it is such an ephemeral thing – here today, gone tomorrow – and very fickle. These young men have only a few years to prove themselves and achieve “glory,” and then they are past it and the crowd of fans moves on to the next person. In Mr. Powell’s case, it appears they have already moved on. The same thing could happen to Mr. Bolt next year. Of course they are under pressure, from the fans and from themselves. They all want to do their best, earn lots of money (don’t forget all the lucrative endorsements and special appearances, etc) and that’s it. I just expect them to do the best they are capable of on the day, and I wish them all good luck!

as one who was and still is a great devotee of the so called bronze queen merlene ottey…i’d like to think that it is not about asafa’s elusive gold medal… if i may draw a parallel between both it is the giving up…. it is that lack of mental toughness that quite frankly was obvious from that first big one which everyone expected him to win but which he finished not first or second or third, but fifth. it was a bitter pill to swallow no one saw it coming and from a nation of people to conceive of themselves as little but tallawah it was unacceptable….

ottey’s near-misses over the years disappointed us but we kept the faith because she never stopped trying..each race a new opportunity for redemption (at least medal wise)…

if it were about the medal how would one explain michael frater and our obvious love for the determined short man? when they introduced him at the jn invitational championship on the weekend, the crowd went almost as ecstatic as they did when bolt was introduced…. why? because we rate frater for his determination, gold notwithstanding…. an A for effort as it were.

we’re way too passionate about athletics to accept anything than one’s best effort and we can’t depend on asafa because he will disappoint in that regard…

but having said that asafa has in my mind already achieved his “gold”…that race last world championship in which he finished third behind tyson gay and usain bolt. he clearly ran the entire race and that i think is all we have wanted all along…

I like a lot of your comments skilarchie, but I think you are forgetting one thing. There are a lot of people on board the track and field bandwagon now who are not analysing the reality of the field. I was watching the crowd reaction (through the HWT big screen) to races at World Champs. Most people barely cracked even a smile unless the athlete won gold. It is crazy! (and the subject of an upcoming post lol). I hear people who I think should know better making stupid (yes, stupid) comments like “Him only get silver. A only one bronze she get” totally ignoring how the field has been running all season, or that third in the world is a huge accomplishment. Hell, making the finals is a big accomplishment. So whereas you rated Asafa’s 2009 bronze for the reasons you stated, many others saw BRONZE and did not give him props.

Yes, this drives me absolutely crazy! I fear that Jamaicans are developing a kind of hubris where the attainment of these medals are concerned. They need to step back and recognise that even getting to the finals after several grueling qualifying rounds is an acheivement. To win a medal, any medal against the best atheletes in the world is not to be scoffed at. Personally, I walk around with the most ridiculous grin on my face when one of our athletes wins a medal!

As for Asafa, I don’t think it’s the fact that he runs for money, but the fact he only seems to perform well WHEN he is running for money. That is the perception that is out there.

As always, Dionne, your writing is clear, well organised and interesting. I am disappointed in Asafa because of 2 main reasons: I don’t think he is maximising his potential and I don’t think he is a real competitor. It is not the chest beating and other antics of the uber confident Bolt that makes him a competitor. VCB is one of the fiercest competitors around, yet her personality remains quietly humble. It is Asafa’s repeat pull-outs and disclaimers that continue to disappoint. Here’s what I wrote about Asafa last year: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110921/letters/letters1.html

Thanks for sharing that letter – “He is one of the greatest of sprinters and the poorest of competitors. Asafa’s fans want to see him leave everything on the track. We do not want him to hedge his bets. We do not want excuses.”

Asafa isn’t the only top athlete who’s struggling with a groin injury. Tyson Gay has been ravaged by a groin injury that’s threatening to end his career. And Asafa isn’t the only top Jamaican athlete who does well at the Diamond League, but fails to do the rounds as well in a major championship. Our own 400m hurdler Kaliese Spencer didn’t do as well as expected at last year’s World Champs, and until recently, American quartermiler Sanya Richards was saddled with that tag as well.

Wow, the fans on that message board nuh play!!!! Difference with Tyson of course, though, fairly or unfairly, is that he is perceived as coming through when it counts, and never giving half-measures. I like the comment by the person who said that Tyson runs injured sometimes and that may contribute to the amount of time he spends on the sidelines.

Dionne not sure what to say, every time the issue is raised at work the discussion gets heated. I believe it is mental toughness, the most talented and confident guys always wins, let me name a few: Usain Bolt, Maurice Green, Floyd May-whether Jr and Tiger Woods in his time. These guys have one thing in common, in their minds they have won before the event even start.

Asafa is a great sprinter when he is healthy/But it is the manner in which he runs his races that causes him to finish 3rd to 5th.How can anyone running 100 meter, shut down with a few meters to go.It is his own fault.Not until he fixes this problem, he will never get a gold.

Asafa needs to stop making public his excuses before or after the races. As some of those comments are ill judged and easily give the pyschological edge to his rivals- even those who have not defeated him..

Asafa is at the stage of his career where fast times should not matter but having competitive races. So Asafa should try and face Gatlin again real soon and front up. That would please his fans.

At the Olympics can Asafa’s body withstand 3 rounds of 100m in less than 36 hours and remain fit and competitive?

I ask that question because as I think Asafa’s toughest race (if he gets to London and in shape) will be the 100m semi finals..Depending on times in the quarter finals he could easily draw Bolt, Blake, Gatlin, Dix, etc in one semi. How many times have we seen at the Games and World Championships one semi final deemed tougher than the final itself?

But I pray he comes through and does him, his family and the country proud.

Dont expect a world record though. Weather conditions in that part of East London in July and August is never conducive to fast times. Rain!!

He is a great athlete but not a competitive one. If we were to wait on him for an Olympic medal, we would wait in vain. Better luck next time, but with so many young and hungry athletes out there, its going to be tough for him…..so many yrs of running but not an Olympic medal to show for it….sad